Term limits debate out of order - Museveni

Apr 26, 2012

The NRM Chairperson, Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday blocked the National Executive Committee from discussing the issue of restoring the presidential term limits.

By Mary Karugaba 

The NRM Chairperson, Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday blocked the National Executive Committee from discussing the issue of restoring the presidential term limits.

A NEC member, Capt. Francis Babu, reportedly attempted to bring up the matter for discussion although it wasn't on the agenda earlier agreed on at the beginning of the meeting.

After the presentations by President Yoweri Museveni and Party Secretary General Amama Mbabazi, Babu who is NRM vice-chairperson for Kampala, requested that the delegates also discuss the issue of term limits since it had started gathering momentum

President Museveni, however, ruled Babu out of order, according to sources.

The President reportedly told members that the Party had already come up with a position and raising the matter again "is out of order."

"When I asked members at the beginning of the meeting whether they had other issues to include on the agenda, no body raised a hand. We have already adopted the agenda," the President reportedly said.

 "The position of NRM is no term limits in any of the political office. But if MPs who think they are new arguments, they have cause, can process the matter early through the party organs for the next NEC meeting," a source that attended the meeting at State House on Tuesday said.

"We were elected for five years to deliver. Anybody to bring issues of term limits is out of order. This is out of question," a source that attended the meeting at State House on Tuesday said.

He instead advised the delegates to wait for the next NEC meeting that is scheduled to sit in October and discuss the matter after passing through the relevant party organs.

Citing the recent death of Malawi president Bingu Wa Mutharika, the President also informed the meeting that the presidential succession debate should be put to rest because in case he dies, the Vice President Edward Ssekandi takes over under the Constitution.

"The President said the Constitution is clear. In case he died, Ssekandi is there to take over until elections are held," sources quoted the President as saying.

Article 109 of the Constitution provides that if a president dies, resigns or is removed from office, the vice-president assumes office until elections are held within six months.

The NRM deputy Secretary General Dorothy Huhya and spokesperson Ofwono Opondo, speaking at a press briefing at Plot10 Kyadondo road, yesterday confirmed that President Museveni had stopped debate on the term limits as it wasn't on the agenda. 

"Yes the President communicated to the members that the Party already had a position and if members want the matter discussed, they should go through the party organs," Huhya said.

"You don't just come and talk about a substantive matter like this," Huhya added.

Ofwono said the President rejected the matter because members tried to raise it after the meeting had unanimously adopted the agenda.

Huhya also said MPs belonging to the NRM who insist on going against the party position on the term limits issue could face the disciplinary committee.

 

 

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